Bridgeport Hospital physicians have performed their 500th procedure using the da Vinci robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery system. The 500 procedures are the most performed at any hospital in Fairfield County.

The 500th procedure was done on March 4 by Chief of Gynecologic Oncology Masoud Azodi, MD, who also performed the very first da Vinci procedure at the hospital in January 2007.

“The advantages of robot-assisted surgery are significant,” says Dr. Laser. “Incisions are smaller, patients experience much less pain, they often do not need strong narcotic pain medication and they can resume their normal daily activities in about half the time as they can with traditional surgery.”

Other benefits of robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery for patients include less blood loss and scarring, and a lower risk of infection.

While many procedures can be done with conventional laparoscopic instruments, some complex surgeries can only be done with the extra flexibility and dexterity offered by the da Vinci system, Dr. Laser adds.

“I am a true believer in minimally invasive surgery and I am so grateful that my last surgery was performed with the da Vinci system,” says gynecology patient Kris Sinise, a computer engineer from Stratford. “I work full-time and have three children so getting back on my feet quickly was a top priority.”